Strand winding apparatus



May 27, 1947. F. .1. JOYCE STRAND WINDING APPARATUS Filed June 21, 1943 m w mHk ww IN V EN TOR.

y 27 1947. F. J. JOYCE 69 S TRAND WINDING APPARATUS Filed June 21, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FRANC/S J. JOYCE INVENTOR.

@LLOZQP A ITOIZAETI' May 27, 1947. JOYCE 2,421,269

sTRANb WINDING APPARATUS Filed June 21, 1945 5 Sheets$heet 5 F i zilic F/eA/vc/s J. JOYCE jg INVENTOR.

May 27, 1947.

' F. J, JOYCE STRAND WINDING APPARATUS Filed June 21, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

May 2'7, 1947. F. J. JOYCE STRAND WINDING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 21, 1943 R m E w w w w A a M S l. l M 1 M I :1 Y B wm mw Patented May 27, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STRAND WINDING APPARATUS Francis J. Joyce, Keyport, J.

Application June 21, 1943, Serial No. 491,593

4 Claims. (Cl. 242-458) This invention relates to a strand winding apparatus.

The main object of the invention resides in the provision of a distributor for winding apparatus wherein the traversable member is so associated with rotatable lead shafts as to minimize vibration therebetween and resulting thereby in a smoother and more accurate wind on the winding or take-up reel.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a distributor associated with a winding apparatus wherein there is firm sliding engagement over a substantial area at all times between at least one of the cam followers of said distributor and at least one of the cam tracks or dwell cam surfaces of the lead shafts to prevent loose and neutral relationship. Loose or neutral engagement between the cam followers and the lead shafts leads to a shifting of the distributor caused by the side loads of the cable when the said distributor is at the end positions corresponding to the end positions of the winding or take-up reel. Such a shifting results in a non-uniform winding, fouling, jamming andunsmooth operation of the apparatus, disadvantages which the present invention overcomes.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of rotating lead shafts associated with the distributor wherein the shafts have unidirectional spiral tracks thereon as distinguished from intersectin tracks for effecting reciprocatory movements of the distributor, the use of such unidirectional tracks affording threads of smaller pitch, a greater area of contact between the cam followers of the distributor and the tracks of the shafts and elimination of damage to the apparatus by eradicating possible jamming between the cam followers and the shaft tracks. Longer life and economy in the cost of manufacture of lead shafts are also accomplished by the use of unidirectional tracks.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a member having cam followers at the opposite ends and being mounted in the sliding block of the distributor for vertical reciprocation at spaced intervals to alternate the direction of movement of the distributor longitudinally of the winding or take-up reel.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of lead shafts having opposed dwell cam surfaces at the opposite ends thereof and so timed as to disengage one follower from one shaft and engage the other follower to the other shaft for reversing the direction of movement of the distributor, such dwell cam surfaces also serving as 2 a momentary dwell or stop to the movement of the distributor.

Another end of the invention resides in the use of lead shafts in conjunction with the distributor having more threads to the inch and permitting suitable ratios between the speed of rotation of the lead shafts and the winding reel determinable by the diameter of the cable and the pitch of the shaft threads ortracks.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages of the invention will hereinafter'appear inthe progress of the disclosure and 'as pointed out in the appended claims.

Accompanying this specification are drawings illustrating a form of the invention wherein correspondin reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing the winding apparatus generally as applied to an airplane, the strand or cable being secured at one end to a target.

Figure 2 is a front View in elevation, partl in section, of the winding apparatus including the traversable member of the distributor, the lead shafts therefor, the end drums of the winding reel and actuating means.

Figure 3 is a front view in elevation of the right hand side of Figure 2 showing the distributor at the ends of the lead shafts preparatory to reversal of movement thereof.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of Figure 2 the plane 3-4 thereof.

Figure 5 is a front view in elevation of the winding apparatus showing the left hand side of Figure 2 with the distributor at the left end of the lead shafts preparatory to reversal of movement thereof.

Figure 6 is an end view in elevation, partly broken away, showing the end of the winding apparatus.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the end of the winding reel secured to an end frame member or housing to which is secured a motor and a reduction gear box.

Figure 8 is an end view in elevation, partly in section, of the other end member of the frame of the winding apparatus including a gear train transferrin motion from the driven shaft of the winding reel to the lead shafts.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view along the axes of the lead shafts showing one of the two cam followers thereof in the act of engaging the lower lead shaft through a dwell cam surface thereon.

along dwell cam surface at the ends of the lead shafts for transferring the engagement between onefollower and the tracks of one lead shaft to the other follower and the tracks of the "otherlead shaft to effect reversal of movementsobthedistributor longitudinally of the winding reel.

As an illustration of the invention, la -winding apparatus having a rotating winding or take-up reel and =.-a distributor for distributing strand or cable thereon in superimposed 13.378181351318615! and 'or cable is wound *thereonand for unwinding strand or cable :therefrom reverse :order .is shownrin'theadrawings. .A conventional winding reelris provided havingla driven :shaftzzfi covered by ahub zaaandend drumsat and :2! {the hub :beingrsuitably secured .to shaft as Jay: a-pin 2i! as best seen in Figures 12,14; and :-'7. a-Asleeve 3.0"is

suitablyxsecuredto%hub':2-8 as by *set'screws, one i -of which is :mdicated :by numerali-M the :sleeve in conjunction with -:drums 52$ ;andi2l :serving as the take-.up :reel of the'apparatuszfor-strand :or :cable 32, the latter having zone :end thereof suitableisecuredtosleeve'fio#contiguousto one of the :drums 15KB sand 12:1, :such :connection :of the mable :not being shown :in-fthe drawings.

Driven shaft 25 carrying the winding ;-reel is ssuitably joumaled'ioraotation in :bearings of a frame comprised :of :a zhuusing (generally :desigmated bynumeral'M asionesendnnember and-.an opposite plate as the other endrmember. The :housing, 3 4-;is;adapted toiserveias 1a mountingrfor amonventional braking-mechanism :for the moveiment :of cable :32 Eand hasaniouter wall 34a to :which i is :secured a ,POWBI' :source :SllCh as :motor 36 and a reduction gear box .,-3l,ra= gear :of which (not shown) drives shaft .zizfor; rotating the-wind- :ingrreel. .Housing 34 is -furthr provided with an iannularmortionfifl spacedrinwardlyi .of the periphery of wall 34a and an inner wall 38a. Annular gPQIZtiOIl 3B zasrshownlin Figures A,.6and JLis 5131'0- vided with an opening at the topthereof between sdownwardly :turne'd sands 39 and 40, while 'the imnerzwallqatasis provided withra central-opening 238i) to :admit a 1' portion of end drum 26 within housing 13% ;f or :rotation therewithin, said I portion of the drum within the housing serving as'a brake shoe-for .brakeiband A-l One :end 10f :the band =41 'issecuredto the mannular portion 38 at end as by a threaded :bolt Alengagingandnternally threaded lug=fl3-secured to send 40 :as showmin Figure 6. One end rof bolt 142 Ihas .a spin or stud M while the other end is threaded :and has'ainut flzsecurablezagainstt-lug 4'3, the -:stud #14 carrying lend loops 46 secured to pneeendiof'bra-ke {band 31-! Endiloops 41 are :providedsat'theaopposite end of brake band 4| and rare :engageable with:a stud All which is secured to the lower end .of ra leverarm 4,9 pivotedpn :a

The segment 52 has inner I ratchet teeth 55 which are adapted to engage with a depressible pawl within lever 49, the said pawl not being shown in the drawings. An opening 56 within lever 49 is provided for penetration of segment 52 therethrough to permit free pivotal movement.

The novel distributor generally includes a sliding block traversable on a pair of lead shafts, the block having suitable guide rollers for the cable :to Foe distributed and cam "followers to engage camtracks and cam surfaces on the shafts for purposes of distributing the strand or cable on the winding or take-up reel in superimposed layers as the strand or cable is wound thereon and for unwinding strand or cable therefrom in :reverse order.

Thus, numerals 60 and 6! indicate a pair of lead shafts spaced forwardly and centrally of the winding reel as shown in Figurs 2, 4 and 8 and are disposed longitudinally of and parallel with said winding reel and in verticakalignmentgthe shafts serving as a mounting for the sliding block (hereinafter-tubedescribed) Each of theshafts 430 and all at expandedlportions 60a and -fiil a is -suitably iournaled :in theend members $34 and 35 of theframe atreinforced areas :52 and 63'64 respectively.

,Rotating motion .is imparted to :shafts --60 and Si in any conventional manneresuch-tasiby atrain of gears deriving motionhfrom a gear. at one .end of shaft 25 of .the take-.up yreel, shaft 25 vbeing drivenvattheother end zbyia sourceiof power: such .asmotor 35 through iaigear .of the gearbox .31 :secured to endimemberlvfl -as.reinforcediareal4 as shown in Figures 2 .and 8, Shafts filliandfil have extensions J55 and fi 6 .penetratingtheendmember At the ends .of extensions 65 and B6 are .intermeshing gears .61 .and 4468 hi the same \di- .ameterto impart opposite rotation to the-shafts. .As shown the .drivinggearfiQ atthatend of. shaft 25 which penetrates =end ,member :35 :is of :half ,the diameter --of gears 1 and -68 .and :imparts .motionto gear fi'i bya train of i-idlers 10,? and i2 whereby the :ratio of movement of the shafts --to the winding .reel isas -l lIhe ratio however, is determinablebytheldiameter-ofthe cable .to-bewoundonthe reel and the .pitch of -the.-lead shaft .cam tracks to be :now described. :Lead shafts B0 (and 6 I are provided with similar spiral loam tracks "I 5 and 16 respectively Lon =theperipherythereoi and as shown form right handrscrews with the shafts. Cam tracks 15 "at .the end portions communicate with zcamfsurfaces 5H :and .119 while cam tracks 16 at the end portions com- .municate with similar \camsurfaces 18 .-and :80. A11-.of :the aforementioned scam surfaces have "a width sufiicient to accommodate the angle of the cam -.f.ollowers (the latter to be hereinafter vdescribed in association with the traversable distributorguide :bloclcof the apparatus) :and taper oil from the depth of the cam tracks :15 and 16 to thesurface of theshafts within-alsmalliangle such :as substantially ra 45490 degree :angle as shown iin Figure 1-5 to serve both es a momen- .tary dwellto .thermovement of {the cam .followers .and Lto=transfer engagement between. oneicam follower and the tracks of one shaft to the other cam fOllGWGl-vhlld-thB-it13.CkS-Of the-other shaft to reverse movement :of the guide "or sliding lblock longitudinally of "the Winding or *take up .reel.

distributor {guide o sliding :block above mentioned is indicated ibyv numeral 12H and-is ,pro- :vided with .-a; pair zof spacedzand aligned horizontal cylindrical -lopenings 82 ;-and :83 for movable support -by engagement with shafts Jill and :61,

and vertical bore 84, cylindrical in shape and open at the bottom as shown in Figures 4, 10 and 11. A

bracket having a front leg 85 and a lower leg 86 is secured to the front wall of block 8| by bolts 81 penetrating openings 81a and is adapted both to close the bottom opening of bore 88 and to "carry suitable guide rollers for cable 32.

Insertable within bore 84 of the distributor sliding block 8| is a member 88 shown as being cylindrical in shape and carrying the aforementioned cam followers or tongues indicated by numerals 98 and 9|. The followers are at opposite ends of member 88, the latter being mounted for ver- -tical reciprocatory movement within sliding block 8| for alternate engagement between one follower and tracks I5 and the other followe and tracks -'|6. This alternate engagement is effected by the action of the pairs of opposing dwell cam surfaces IT-I8 and I9-88 at the ends of the tracks.

' Thus, cylindrical member 88 is provided with a pair of vertical aligned and spaced semij spherical recesses 89, 89each recess being alternately 'engageable with a corresponding suitable but preferably yieldable bearing to effectuate engagement either between the follower 98 and shaft 68 or the follower 9| and shaft 6| .and to effectuate intermediate engagement of both shafts by the followers when member 88 is between the O opposed cam surfaces IT-I8 and 'I988 during the interval of displacement.

Followers 98 and 9| operate the sliding block 8| for traverse on the shafts and as shown are in the form of opposite tongue members at oppositely disposed angles as best shown in Figure 14 to accommodate the track directions of shafts '68 and 6|. The tongue of follower 98 has a concave upper cam surface 92 extending from end shoulders 94 and the tongue of follower 9| has a concave lower cam surface 93 extending from end shoulders 95, the cam surfaces 92 and 93 having contours and widths corresponding to the contours and widths of the engageable tracks I5 along the lower side of shaft 68 and the tracks I6 along the upper side of shaft GI'during movements in the opposite right and left hand directions respectively. Such a fit between the cam follower surfaces 92 and 93 and tracks 15' and I8 prevents vibration and displacement between slidin block 8| and shafts 68 and 8| at these areas to insure smooth operation:

The bearings previously mentioned are suitably associated with a cylindrical member 88 t v permit vertical reciprocal movement at spaced intervals. These bearings are engageable with V semi-spherical recesses 89, 89 disposed in spaced and vertical alignment along a side of member 88. The mounting for such bearings includes a block 98 having a pair of vertically aligned and spaced bores 96a and 97a offset from recesses 89, 89. by thedepth of tracks I or 18, said bores communicating with bores 98 and 9! in the front wall of sliding block 8|, as best shown in Figures and 11.

6 As shown in Figure 10, when the upper follower 98 is in engagement with track I5 of shaft 68,- bearing I88 engages the lower spherical recess 89 0f cylindrical membe 88 while bearing I85 is disposed below the upper spherical recess 89. When the lower follower 98 is in engagement with track I8 of shaft 6| as shown in Figure 11 bearing I85 engages the upper spherical recess 89' of member 88, while bearing I86 is disposed above the lower spherical recess 89. In the intermediate portion of membe 88 when it is being displaced from one spiral track to the other of shafts 98 and GI by the opposing cam surfaces 71-28 and 'I988, one bearing (either I05 or I86) is forced out of one spherical recess 89 at the same time that the other bearingenters the other spherical recess. In this way, cylindrical member 88 always maintains a proper vertical position with respect to shafts 88 and GI.

An appropriate cable guide is suitably secured to the sliding block 8|. As shown especially in Figures 4 and 9, two pairs of cooperating pulleys and a pair of elongated rollers are provided. The first pai of pulleys I89 and H8 are horizontally disposed and suitably spaced for cable 32 to slide therebetween. Pulleys I89 and H8 are secured to bracket wall 88 by threaded ends H3 and II of shank members having screw heads H5 and I I 8, the shank members serving as axles for said pulleys. On both sides of pulley I89 are'suitable bearing discs I I I and I I Ia. while on both sides of pulleys II8 are similar discs IIZ and HM.

A second pair of spaced pulleys I I8 and I I9 are provided rearwardly of pulleys I89 and H8 and are secured to a block I I! affixed to the rear edge of bracket wall 86, the said pulleys beingdisposed in vertical alignment and mounted against block II! by shanks having screw heads I28'and IZI and threaded ends not shown. Pulley I I9 is provided with similar bearing discs I22 and I23, while pulley H8 is also provided with similar discs not shown.

As seen in Figure 4, cable 32 passes between pulleys I89-H9 and II8 II9 along a straight horizontal line. To maintain the portion of cable 32 directly behind pulleys I I8 and I I9 in a vertical plane so that said pulleys may not be fouled by a deflection of this portion of the cable'induced by an interruption in the load as by air pockets),

a pair'of spaced and vertically disposed elongated rollers I28a are provided directly behind pulleys I I8 and I I9, the said rollers being secured to'block H'I as'by brackets I281).

Numeral I29 indicates a plane in which the winding apparatus may be mounted while numeral I25 indicates the target carried at one end of cable 32. Suitable rollers diagrammatically shown by numeral I26 are mounted on the plane to serve as a guide for cable 82 between the guide or sliding block 8| and the target I 25. Although the apparatus is shown in connection with a target towed by an airplane, it is understood that the apparatus is applicable to other known commercial uses. When the winding reel goes in a clockwise direction as shown in Figures 4, 8 and 9 for unwinding cable 82, shaft 89 goes in a clockwise direction and shaft 6| in a counterclockwise direction since shafts 68 and 6| are right hand screws. The sliding block 8 I, when cam surface 92 of follower 98 engages tracks 15, will go toward the right in the direction of the arrow in Figure 9 until the follower 98 is thrown off tracks I5 by the communicating and tapered dwell cam 11 of shaft 68 preferably within a rotational angle of between $5and--90 degrees. Duringthe time of thissdiss'placement, =follower :or tongue 99'! vat surface r93 .engagesmhe opposite and tapered dwell cam sur- -.face 18 ":Of shaft it] within the same rotational angle TOf :45-90 degrees. The communication between the dwell :cam surface "M and tracks 16 rbrings qaboutrthe enga ement'between :follower fl I -and tracks 45 causing the-s1iding block 8| to travel along "shaft ti l imthe :opnisite direction or to the left as iindicatedby the-arrow in Figure 29 until :Io'llower :9! engages I the dwell cam surface 180 rconmiunica ting with tracks -15. :At this "time, member 8181s thrown put a of engagement with the =llower shaft 61 and 'entersrthe dwell cam surface #8 son :shaft 150 *ior engagement between follower =flfia'anditracks 1:5.

:It is $0 the ;.noted that "cylindrical :member 88 ismever inaxneutral :position :with respect to shafts 6D .anddfl. 'This .prev.ents any possibility :of r'lateral displacement :along said "shafts :that ,:mig'htlbe.;causediby the side loads of cable 3 2'When zsliding rblock:8:l is at theclimitingend positions. qlsuch ."a neutral position at the reversal :points is iavoided by. partial -.-engagement'between .the pairs "of cam surfaces IL-18 "and :19-18'0 during the initial phases f -.displacement -'for reciprocating -theimevement .of :the sliding block 81.

ot onlylis there no vibration betweenzmember 388 ior sliding block 8 l i mounted forvertical movement the'rein and tracks 1:5 and -18 of shafts r60 andfiii lgbut there is also noyibration at the'cam surfaces o'f the tracks Tbecause the'width of :each f the (dwell camsurfaces :11, 1:8, -19 and 811 is zequal to the horizontaldistancebetween'the ends worthefollowers aorttongues i 90 and 191. It is to be Gbsenvedthatettthe interval when one cam follower i-sidiseng ged iromone: shaft and the other fdllowe'r engaged .ini'the other shaft, sliding block -88is in a momentarilystationary condition, this -'condition lasting:forabout .a quarter of one revoliit-ion of :the shafts.

It is understood that shafts 691211111 56! need not rotatein opposite directions; for if Shaftafil were a corresponding left hand screw rotating at the same rate and inthe 'same direction lastheeright "handscrew or threadedshai-trfilhthesame reciprocating movementscould be effected as heretofore described.

I wish it further understood that minor changes land variations in the size, material, integration :and'subcombination of parts illustratin the :in- "rvention herein'may all be res'ortedto without departing from the spirit of fthezinventiongand the :scope of the appended claims.

'I claim:

11. In acable'winding apparatus having a T0- xtating :drum #mounted :between :end plates and a distributor :for distributing cable thereon from .aniairplanetowing device in superimposed layers .:as the cable is wound thereon and forunwinding cable therefrom in reverse 1order,.;a pair of roitatable shafts mounted between said end plates andzon-which-said distributor is traversable, cam tracks on each of said shafts for efiecting op- 2:8 posite movements ;t o.-said distributonloneitudinal- -lyof :said'drum, means-at-the =ends of the tracks not eachshaft and rotatable therewith to reverse the movement of said -=distributor, movably mounted *corresponding cam followers {for :the

shafts married by the distributor and provided with concave engagingsurfaees 'bffiHSYGISBJJO the axes of =zthe shafts, :guides carried rby the distributoritoqabsorb imposition iof siderloads-lbyrthe drum and the cable extending .from the drum,

each .followeribeing alternately engageable with the tracks-andrmeans of theecorresponding shaft for effecting reeiprocatory "movements zto isaid distributor.

12. Means -for distributing -.me tal cable on a drum, said -.means including a pair loimovable cams, a pair of corresponding. cam rollowers, ea

housing in which said cam followers aremounted -for vertical reciprocation, rollers secured tossalfl housing to guidezsaid cable passing .to andzfiom the. drum, terminal cam members forming part pfsaid=movable can-1s, each of thezcam followers being engageable with-a :eorresponding terminal cammember alternately ,for-efiecti-ng reciprocatory movements-to said ihouslngslongitudinallyeof said drum.

v3. Means :for distributing a metallic -.cable;on a drum :cornprisine a pair of elongated rotatable screws, a slidable member having followers rat opposite end adapted @to selectively engage rsaid screws, a housing sfnnsfiid member, restraining guide members secured to said housing $01 noitatably engaging -th'escable passing to the drum, and means including zcams, one .at each end bf and connected to, said screws, for disconnecting 'onehfwthe followersirom one of the screwsand moving the other follower into engagement with -theotherfone of said-screws.

REFERENCES GITED The following references are of precordintthe file of "this patent:

- Number Name Date 952 ,0 O5 Feterholf Mar. 1 19.1.0 1,472,847 .McGann Nov. 5.1923 J. ,9 1 8,5 8.7 Bryant J 1. 11933 326,558 Fild ..v.. #0013. 13,1931 #310,167 Emory NOV. 12, 19.07 

